A visitor to the Taihao Mausoleum in Central China’s Henan Province caused damage to statues of historical figures, including Qin Hui, during a visit to the Yue Fei Temple. The tourist attraction released a notice on Monday stating that local police are investigating the incident and called on people to behave responsibly.
Yue Fei, a famous military commander during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), is known for his loyalty and courage. The legend of Yue’s story is widespread, with his mother tattooing four Chinese characters on his back, meaning “serving the country with total loyalty.”
According to the Taihao Mausoleum, the visitor became emotional and shouted “Let’s restore our lost land” before forcibly lifting an iron plate covering a censer and smashing statues of historical figures. Fortunately, the statues were modern imitations and did not belong to historical relics.
The tourist attraction received 300,000 visits during the seven-day Chinese Spring Festival, a record high in three years. Some netizens criticized the visitor’s actions and called for visitors to behave civilly and reasonably.
The local tourist authorities have since installed guardrails and increased security personnel to guide tourists and ensure they visit in a civilized manner. The tourist attraction has also called on visitors to be respectful of local customs, cultural traditions, and religious beliefs when visiting public places.
